THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 1, 1996 TAG: 9609010230
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 56 lines
After leading the Eagles to nine wins in their final 12 games and into the playoffs in '95, you would think Philadelphia quarterback Rodney Peete had solidified his position coming into this season.
You wouldn't be entirely correct. Which is one reason he'll start today's season opener against the Washington Redskins with a bulky brace on his injured left knee.
Peete, who sprained his knee against New England during the preseason, was supposed to miss up to three weeks of the regular season. Instead, aided by the brace, Peete practiced all week with the first unit.
``I can pretty much do anything,'' said Peete. ``The soreness is gone, but I have to wear the brace. It won't change anything. Your instincts take over and, pretty soon, you don't even realize you have the brace on. But I won't be as mobile.''
Peete's story was one of the more remarkable from the '95 season. Brought in to back up Randall Cunningham, he replaced him when the Eagles started 1-3. Philadelphia went 9-3 the rest of the season and humbled Detroit 58-37 in the first round of the playoffs.
But in his final four regular-season games, he completed just 68 of 127 pass attempts for two touchdowns with seven interceptions and several fumbles. His contract wasn't renewed until midway through the offseason.
``It didn't get done as quickly as we would have liked,'' he admitted. ``There was some question (inside the organization) about my future here, though I don't know who was talking.
``I feel pressure, because we have to improve on what we did last year and that starts with me.''
Hence, enough of a sense of urgency to chop three weeks off his expected rehab time.
Coach Ray Rhodes wants this to be Peete's team. He may have brought in Ty Detmer during the offseason, but Detmer's chances of taking over the offense never seemed particularly good.
``Rodney's the starter here and he's the starter until someone unseats him,'' Rhodes said.
Peete began the process of protecting his job by dumping 20 pounds during the offseason. He is now 6-foot, 212 pounds. His wife, celebrity Holly Robinson Peete, now calls him ``Mr. Slim.''
``I just got too heavy near the end of last season,'' Peete explained. ``I was up to 225 and I felt it. It helped as far as taking hits and things like that, but at times I thought it hampered me.
``And one thing I wanted to do this year was take advantage of opportunities to run the ball. Not to the point where I drop back and take off, but I think there were opportunities last year where I could have made a lot more yards when I did run.''
Adds teammate Raleigh McKenzie: ``He seems more focused. I think he really wants to prove to people that he's the guy who can take us all the way.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Rodney Peete: ``We have to improve on what we did last year and that
starts with me.'' by CNB